GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: TENNESSEE (1-1) at NEW ORLEANS (0-2)

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD TEN
BO SCAIFE 3 YD PASS FROM VINCE YOUNG
(ROB BIRONAS KICK)

TENNESSEE 24
NEW ORLEANS 14 8:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TENNESSEE 24
NEW ORLEANS 14 8:50 LEFT, 4TH QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 14 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD TEN
BO SCAIFE 3 YD PASS FROM VINCE YOUNG
(ROB BIRONAS KICK)

TENNESSEE 24
NEW ORLEANS 14 8:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TENNESSEE 24
NEW ORLEANS 14 7:22 LEFT, 4TH QTR

TEN BALL ON NOR 13 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TENNESSEE 24
NEW ORLEANS 14 4:49 LEFT, 4TH QTR

NOR BALL ON TEN 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD TEN
VINCENT FULLER 60 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN
(ROB BIRONAS KICK)

TENNESSEE 31
NEW ORLEANS 14 2:39 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">CORRECTION


NFL TD TEN
VINCENT FULLER 61 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN
(ROB BIRONAS KICK)

TENNESSEE 31
NEW ORLEANS 14 2:39 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TENNESSEE 31
NEW ORLEANS 14 2:33 LEFT, 4TH QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 28 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TWO MINUTE WARNING, 2ND HALF

TENNESSEE 31
NEW ORLEANS 14

NOR BALL ON NOR 41 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TENNESSEE 3 7 7 14 31
NEW ORLEANS 0 7 7 0 14 FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: TEN - FG, ROB BIRONAS 33 YD, 12:16. Drive: 10
plays, 40 yards in 4:35. Key plays:
Young 10-yard pass to White to New
Orleans 45; Young 19-yard pass to
Jones on 3rd-and-7 to New Orleans
23; Young 13-yard pass to Jones to
New Orleans 10. TENNESSEE 3-0
2ND QUARTER: TEN - TD, BRANDON JONES 35 YD PASS FROM VINCE
YOUNG (ROB BIRONAS KICK), 2:05.
Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards in 2:40.
Key plays: Tennessee takes over on
downs at New Orleans 45; Brown
1-yard run on 4th-and-1 to New
Orleans 35. TENNESSEE 10-0
NOR - TD, REGGIE BUSH 1 YD RUN (OLINDO MARE
KICK), 14:00. Drive: 11 plays, 62
yards in 4:14. Key plays: Brees
37-yard pass to Colston on
3rd-and-11 to Tennessee 26; Stecker
2-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to
Tennessee 15; 5-yard roughing the
passer penalty on Titans' Odom on
3rd-and-5 to Tennessee 5. TENNESSEE
10-7
3RD QUARTER: NOR - TD, REGGIE BUSH 1 YD RUN (OLINDO MARE
KICK), 7:05. Drive: 9 plays, 62
yards in 4:51. Key plays: Brees
15-yard pass to Copper to Tennessee
45; Brees 11-yard pass to Henderson
to Tennessee 26; Brees 11-yard pass
to Bush to Tennessee 15; Brees
6-yard pass to Colston on 3rd-and-2
to Tennessee 1. NEW ORLEANS 14-10
TEN - TD, LENDALE WHITE 1 YD RUN (ROB BIRONAS
KICK), 12:41. Drive: 9 plays, 57
yards in 5:36. Key plays: Griffin
48-yard kickoff return to Tennessee
43; Brown 19-yard run to New
Orleans 38; White 8-yard run on
3rd-and-4 to New Orleans 24; 5-yard
offside penalty to Saints' H Thomas
on 3rd-and-3 to New Orleans 12;
Young 10-yard pass to Moulds to New
Orleans 1. TENNESSEE 17-14
4TH QUARTER: TEN - TD, BO SCAIFE 3 YD PASS FROM VINCE
YOUNG (ROB BIRONAS KICK), 6:05.
Drive: 10 plays, 51 yards in 5:55.
Key plays: Starks recovery of Brees
fumble at Tennessee 49; Young
18-yard pass to Williams on
3rd-and-2 to New Orleans 25; Young
11-yard run to New Orleans 14;
White 2-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to
New Orleans 3. TENNESSEE 24-14
TEN - TD, VINCENT FULLER 61 YD INTERCEPTION
RETURN (ROB BIRONAS KICK), 12:21.
TENNESSEE 31-14

ATT: 70,002</div>

 

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
TENNESSEE 31
NEW ORLEANS 14 1:11 LEFT, 4TH QTR

TEN BALL ON TEN 28 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TENNESSEE 31
NEW ORLEANS 14 1:11 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TENNESSEE 3 7 7 14 31
NEW ORLEANS 0 7 7 0 14 FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER:

12:16 TEN - FG, ROB BIRONAS 33 YD.
Drive: 10 plays, 40 yards in 4:35.
Key plays: Young 10-yard pass to White to New Orleans 45; Young
19-yard pass to Jones on 3rd-and-7 to New Orleans 23; Young 13-yard pass
to Jones to New Orleans 10. TENNESSEE 3-0.

2ND QUARTER:

2:05 TEN - TD, BRANDON JONES 35 YD PASS FROM VINCE YOUNG (ROB BIRONAS KICK).
Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards in 2:40.
Key plays: Tennessee takes over on downs at New Orleans 45; Brown
1-yard run on 4th-and-1 to New Orleans 35. TENNESSEE 10-0.
14:00 NOR - TD, REGGIE BUSH 1 YD RUN (OLINDO MARE KICK).
Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards in 4:14.
Key plays: Brees 37-yard pass to Colston on 3rd-and-11 to Tennessee
26; Stecker 2-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to Tennessee 15; 5-yard roughing the
passer penalty on Titans' Odom on 3rd-and-5 to Tennessee 5. TENNESSEE
10-7.

3RD QUARTER:

7:05 NOR - TD, REGGIE BUSH 1 YD RUN (OLINDO MARE KICK).
Drive: 9 plays, 62 yards in 4:51.
Key plays: Brees 15-yard pass to Copper to Tennessee 45; Brees
11-yard pass to Henderson to Tennessee 26; Brees 11-yard pass to Bush to
Tennessee 15; Brees 6-yard pass to Colston on 3rd-and-2 to Tennessee 1.
NEW ORLEANS 14-10.
12:41 TEN - TD, LENDALE WHITE 1 YD RUN (ROB BIRONAS KICK).
Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards in 5:36.
Key plays: Griffin 48-yard kickoff return to Tennessee 43; Brown
19-yard run to New Orleans 38; White 8-yard run on 3rd-and-4 to New
Orleans 24; 5-yard offside penalty to Saints' H Thomas on 3rd-and-3 to New
Orleans 12; Young 10-yard pass to Moulds to New Orleans 1. TENNESSEE
17-14.

4TH QUARTER:

6:05 TEN - TD, BO SCAIFE 3 YD PASS FROM VINCE YOUNG (ROB BIRONAS KICK).
Drive: 10 plays, 51 yards in 5:55.
Key plays: Starks recovery of Brees fumble at Tennessee 49; Young
18-yard pass to Williams on 3rd-and-2 to New Orleans 25; Young 11-yard run
to New Orleans 14; White 2-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to New Orleans 3.
TENNESSEE 24-14.
12:21 TEN - TD, VINCENT FULLER 61 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (ROB BIRONAS KICK).
TENNESSEE 31-14.

TENNESSEE - NEW ORLEANS Final Statistics

TEAM STATISTICS TENNESSEE NEW ORLEANS

FIRST DOWNS 19 18
Rushing 7 4
Passing 11 12
Penalty 1 2
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 5-11-45% 7-12-58%
FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY 1-1-100% 0-1-0%
TOTAL NET YARDS 284 252
Total offensive plays 60 62
Average gain per play 4.7 4.1
NET YARDS RUSHING 98 34
Rushing attempts 34 16
Average gain per rush 2.9 2.1
Tackles for loss-yards 3-17 2-2
NET YARDS PASSING 186 218
Times sacked: Number-Yards 0-0 1-7
Gross passing yards 186 225
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 26-18-1 45-29-4
Avg gain per pass play 7.2 4.7
KICKOFFS: Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks 6-2-0 3-3-2
PUNTS: Number and Average 3-40.3 3-53.3
Had blocked 0 0
Net punting average 26.0 50.0
TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not including kickoffs) 155 29
Number-Yards: Punt Returns 3-43 1-10
Number-Yards: Kickoff Returns 1-48 6-133
Number-Yards: Interception Returns 4-112 1-19
PENALTIES: Number-Yards 8-49 2-15
FUMBLES: Number-Lost 1-0 1-1
TOUCHDOWNS 4 2
Rushing 1 2
Passing 2 0
Interceptions 1 0
Other (blocked kicks, etc.) 0 0
EXTRA POINTS: Made-Attempts 4-4 2-2
Kicking: Made-Attempts 4-4 2-2
Passing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
Rushing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
FIELD GOALS: Made-Attempts 1-2 0-0
FGs - PATs had blocked 0-0 0-0
RED ZONE EFFICIENCY 2-5-40% 2-2-100%
GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY 2-3-67% 2-2-100%
SAFETIES 0 0
TIME OF POSSESSION 32:28 26:54


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

TENNESSEE NEW ORLEANS

RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
L WHITE 17 50 2.9 8 1 R BUSH 7 15 2.1 6 2
C BROWN 11 38 3.5 19 0 D BREES 1 9 9.0 9 0
V YOUNG 5 21 4.2 12 0 A STECKER 3 6 2.0 2 0
R WILLIAMS 1 -11-11.0 0 0 D MCALLIST 4 5 1.3 4 0
M KARNEY 1 -1 -1.0 0 0

PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
V YOUNG 14-22-164 1 2 35 D BREES 29-45-225 4 0 37
K COLLINS 4- 4- 22 0 0 8

Sacked-Yards Lost: None Sacked-Yards Lost: D BREES 1-7.

RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
B JONES 4 73 18.3 35 1 L MOORE 6 54 9.0 17 0
C BROWN 4 18 4.5 8 0 R BUSH 6 20 3.3 11 0
R WILLIAMS 3 37 12.3 18 0 E JOHNSON 5 23 4.6 9 0
B SCAIFE 3 26 8.7 19 1 M COLSTON 4 68 17.0 37 0
E MOULDS 2 20 10.0 10 0 T COPPER 2 23 11.5 15 0
L WHITE 1 10 10.0 10 0 A STECKER 2 14 7.0 7 0
B HARTSOCK 1 2 2.0 2 0 D HENDERSO 1 11 11.0 11 0
D PATTEN 1 6 6.0 6 0
M KARNEY 1 5 5.0 5 0
D MCALLIST 1 1 1.0 1 0

INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
K BULLUCK 3 51 17.0 35 0 J DAVID 1 19 19.0 19 0
V FULLER 1 61 61.0 61 1

PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
J MILLER 3 121 40.3 0 1 52 S WEATHERF 3 160 53.3 0 2 54

T = Touchbacks, I = Inside 20

PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
C DAVIS 3 43 14.3 28 0 R BUSH 1 10 10.0 10 0

KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
M GRIFFIN 1 48 48.0 48 0 A STECKER 3 79 26.3 41 0
L MOORE 3 54 18.0 25 0

KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
R BIRONAS 4/4 1/2 O MARE 2/2 0/0
Dist.: 33 (27)

O-D O-D
FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
V YOUNG 1 0 0 1-0 D BREES 1 1 0 0-0
T LABOY 0 0 1 0-0
R STARKS 0 0 0 0-1

DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
D THORNTON 13 10 3 0-0 J BULLOCKS 9 9 0 0-0
N HARPER 7 5 2 0-0 S FUJITA 9 5 4 0-0
C FINNEGAN 6 5 1 0-0 M SIMONEAU 7 3 4 0-0
K BULLUCK 4 4 0 0-0 J CRAFT 6 5 1 0-0
A HAYNESWORTH 4 4 0 0-0 W SMITH 5 4 1 0-0
R STARKS 4 4 0 0-0 R HARPER 5 4 1 0-0
R FOWLER 3 2 1 0-0 J DAVID 4 4 0 0-0
C HOPE 3 2 1 0-0 C GRANT 4 4 0 0-0
C LOWRY 3 2 1 0-0 M MCKENZIE 4 2 2 0-0
A ODOM 3 1 2 0-0 B YOUNG 3 3 0 0-0
V FULLER 2 1 1 0-0 H THOMAS 3 2 1 0-0
T BROWN 2 0 2 0-0 S SHANLE 2 1 1 0-0
T LABOY 1 1 0 1-7 R WYNN 1 1 0 0-0
K VANDEN BOSCH 1 1 0 0-0 A LAKE 1 0 1 0-0
S TULLOCH 1 1 0 0-0

Att: 70,002</div>

 

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Vince Young got the best of Reggie Bushagain in a head-to-head matchup.


Young threw two touchdown passes to lead the Tennessee Titans toa 31-14 victory over the stumbling New Orleans Saints on Mondaynight.


The Titans also got a steller second-half performance from theirdefense, which intercepted Saints quarterback Drew Brees fourtimes and left New Orleans winless at 0-3.


Young led Texas to a 41-38 victory over Bush and SouthernCalifornia in the 2006 Rose Bowl, but Bush won the HeismanTrophy and was the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, one slothigher than the Titans' quarterback.


Bush scored two touchdowns on a pair of 1-yard runs, but he waslimited to just 15 yards rushing on seven carries.

Young, meanwhile, finished 14-of-22 for 164 yards with the twoTD passes and one interception for Tennessee (2-1).

Brees completed 29-of-45 passes for 225 yards and the fourpicks, one of which was returned 61 yards for a touchdown byVincent Fuller to put the game out of reach, 31-14, with 2:39 toplay.


The Saints, who advanced to the NFC Championship game lastseason, took the lead, 14-10, in the third quarter on Bush'ssecond 1-yard TD run, but Young marched the Titans down thefield on the ensuing possession to put the Titans ahead forgood.


LenDale White capped the nine-play, 57-yard drive with a 1-yardplunge for a 17-14 lead with 5:36 left in the third quarter.

Tennessee's defense then came up big on the opening play of thefourth quarter. With the Saints on the move, defensive endTravis LaBoy stripped Brees and defensive tackle Randy Starksrecovered at the Titans 49.


Ten plays later, Young connected with tight end Bo Scaife on a3-yard scoring pass to push the lead to 24-14 with 8:55 to play,putting New Orleans in a precarious position since Titans coachJeff Fisher entered with a 42-2 record when leading headinginto the fourth quarter.


The Titans seemingly sealed it behind another key defensiveplay, as middle linebacker Keith Bulluck intercepted a floaterby Brees - his second pick of the night - and returned it to theSaints 8.


But after three straight runs, Rob Bironas missed a 27-yardfield goal with 4:49 to play, keeping the Saints within 10points.


The Saints were fortunate to be within 10-7 at halftime.

The Titans had the ball for 21 plays in the first quarter whileholding New Orleans without a first down, but only managed a33-yard field goal by Bironas for a 3-0 lead.


A curious decision by Saints coach Sean Payton opened the doorfor the first touchdown of the game.


On 4th-and-1 from their own 45 in the final minute of theopening quarter, the Saints elected to go for it, but Breesoverthrew his receiver, giving Tennessee great field position.

The Titans needed just six plays to cash in, with Young hittingBrandon Jones on a 35-yard scoring pass to make it 10-0 with12:55 left in the opening half.


New Orleans finally got untracked on its final drive of thehalf, going 62 yards in 11 plays. Brees hit Marques Colstonwith a 37-yard pass, and a roughing-the-passer call againstdefensive lineman Antwan Odom kept the drive alive.

Bush swept around the right side from 1 yard out to cut thedeficit to 10-7 with a minute to play.


Young trotted off the field and to the locker room at thatpoint, moments after he was thrown to the turf and seemed tosuffer an injury to his wrist or throwing hand.

 

NFL: TENNESSEE at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TENNESSEE 3 7 7 14 31
NEW ORLEANS 0 7 7 0 14 FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER:

12:16 TEN - FG, ROB BIRONAS 33 YD.
Drive: 10 plays, 40 yards in 4:35.
Key plays: Young 10-yard pass to White to New Orleans 45; Young
19-yard pass to Jones on 3rd-and-7 to New Orleans 23; Young 13-yard pass
to Jones to New Orleans 10. TENNESSEE 3-0.

2ND QUARTER:

2:05 TEN - TD, BRANDON JONES 35 YD PASS FROM VINCE YOUNG (ROB BIRONAS KICK).
Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards in 2:40.
Key plays: Tennessee takes over on downs at New Orleans 45; Brown
1-yard run on 4th-and-1 to New Orleans 35. TENNESSEE 10-0.
14:00 NOR - TD, REGGIE BUSH 1 YD RUN (OLINDO MARE KICK).
Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards in 4:14.
Key plays: Brees 37-yard pass to Colston on 3rd-and-11 to Tennessee
26; Stecker 2-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to Tennessee 15; 5-yard roughing the
passer penalty on Titans' Odom on 3rd-and-5 to Tennessee 5. TENNESSEE
10-7.

3RD QUARTER:

7:05 NOR - TD, REGGIE BUSH 1 YD RUN (OLINDO MARE KICK).
Drive: 9 plays, 62 yards in 4:51.
Key plays: Brees 15-yard pass to Copper to Tennessee 45; Brees
11-yard pass to Henderson to Tennessee 26; Brees 11-yard pass to Bush to
Tennessee 15; Brees 6-yard pass to Colston on 3rd-and-2 to Tennessee 1.
NEW ORLEANS 14-10.
12:41 TEN - TD, LENDALE WHITE 1 YD RUN (ROB BIRONAS KICK).
Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards in 5:36.
Key plays: Griffin 48-yard kickoff return to Tennessee 43; Brown
19-yard run to New Orleans 38; White 8-yard run on 3rd-and-4 to New
Orleans 24; 5-yard offside penalty to Saints' H Thomas on 3rd-and-3 to New
Orleans 12; Young 10-yard pass to Moulds to New Orleans 1. TENNESSEE
17-14.

4TH QUARTER:

6:05 TEN - TD, BO SCAIFE 3 YD PASS FROM VINCE YOUNG (ROB BIRONAS KICK).
Drive: 10 plays, 51 yards in 5:55.
Key plays: Starks recovery of Brees fumble at Tennessee 49; Young
18-yard pass to Williams on 3rd-and-2 to New Orleans 25; Young 11-yard run
to New Orleans 14; White 2-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to New Orleans 3.
TENNESSEE 24-14.
12:21 TEN - TD, VINCENT FULLER 61 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (ROB BIRONAS KICK).
TENNESSEE 31-14.

TENNESSEE - NEW ORLEANS Final Statistics

TEAM STATISTICS TENNESSEE NEW ORLEANS

FIRST DOWNS 19 18
Rushing 7 4
Passing 11 12
Penalty 1 2
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 5-11-45% 7-12-58%
FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY 1-1-100% 0-1-0%
TOTAL NET YARDS 284 252
Total offensive plays 60 62
Average gain per play 4.7 4.1
NET YARDS RUSHING 98 34
Rushing attempts 34 16
Average gain per rush 2.9 2.1
Tackles for loss-yards 3-17 2-2
NET YARDS PASSING 186 218
Times sacked: Number-Yards 0-0 1-7
Gross passing yards 186 225
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 26-18-1 45-29-4
Avg gain per pass play 7.2 4.7
KICKOFFS: Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks 6-2-0 3-3-2
PUNTS: Number and Average 3-40.3 3-53.3
Had blocked 0 0
Net punting average 26.0 50.0
TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not including kickoffs) 155 29
Number-Yards: Punt Returns 3-43 1-10
Number-Yards: Kickoff Returns 1-48 6-133
Number-Yards: Interception Returns 4-112 1-19
PENALTIES: Number-Yards 8-49 2-15
FUMBLES: Number-Lost 1-0 1-1
TOUCHDOWNS 4 2
Rushing 1 2
Passing 2 0
Interceptions 1 0
Other (blocked kicks, etc.) 0 0
EXTRA POINTS: Made-Attempts 4-4 2-2
Kicking: Made-Attempts 4-4 2-2
Passing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
Rushing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
FIELD GOALS: Made-Attempts 1-2 0-0
FGs - PATs had blocked 0-0 0-0
RED ZONE EFFICIENCY 2-5-40% 2-2-100%
GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY 2-3-67% 2-2-100%
SAFETIES 0 0
TIME OF POSSESSION 33:06 26:54


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

TENNESSEE NEW ORLEANS

RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
L WHITE 17 50 2.9 8 1 R BUSH 7 15 2.1 6 2
C BROWN 11 38 3.5 19 0 D BREES 1 9 9.0 9 0
V YOUNG 5 21 4.2 12 0 A STECKER 3 6 2.0 2 0
R WILLIAMS 1 -11-11.0 0 0 D MCALLIST 4 5 1.3 4 0
M KARNEY 1 -1 -1.0 0 0

PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
V YOUNG 14-22-164 1 2 35 D BREES 29-45-225 4 0 37
K COLLINS 4- 4- 22 0 0 8

Sacked-Yards Lost: None Sacked-Yards Lost: D BREES 1-7.

RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
B JONES 4 73 18.3 35 1 L MOORE 6 54 9.0 17 0
C BROWN 4 18 4.5 8 0 R BUSH 6 20 3.3 11 0
R WILLIAMS 3 37 12.3 18 0 E JOHNSON 5 23 4.6 9 0
B SCAIFE 3 26 8.7 19 1 M COLSTON 4 68 17.0 37 0
E MOULDS 2 20 10.0 10 0 T COPPER 2 23 11.5 15 0
L WHITE 1 10 10.0 10 0 A STECKER 2 14 7.0 7 0
B HARTSOCK 1 2 2.0 2 0 D HENDERSO 1 11 11.0 11 0
D PATTEN 1 6 6.0 6 0
M KARNEY 1 5 5.0 5 0
D MCALLIST 1 1 1.0 1 0

INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
K BULLUCK 3 51 17.0 35 0 J DAVID 1 19 19.0 19 0
V FULLER 1 61 61.0 61 1

PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
J MILLER 3 121 40.3 0 1 52 S WEATHERF 3 160 53.3 0 2 54

T = Touchbacks, I = Inside 20

PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
C DAVIS 3 43 14.3 28 0 R BUSH 1 10 10.0 10 0

KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
M GRIFFIN 1 48 48.0 48 0 A STECKER 3 79 26.3 41 0
L MOORE 3 54 18.0 25 0

KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
R BIRONAS 4/4 1/2 O MARE 2/2 0/0
Dist.: 33 (27)

O-D O-D
FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
V YOUNG 1 0 0 1-0 D BREES 1 1 0 0-0
T LABOY 0 0 1 0-0
R STARKS 0 0 0 0-1

DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
D THORNTON 13 10 3 0-0 J BULLOCKS 9 9 0 0-0
N HARPER 7 5 2 0-0 S FUJITA 9 5 4 0-0
C FINNEGAN 6 5 1 0-0 M SIMONEAU 7 3 4 0-0
K BULLUCK 4 4 0 0-0 J CRAFT 6 5 1 0-0
A HAYNESWORTH 4 4 0 0-0 W SMITH 5 4 1 0-0
R STARKS 4 4 0 0-0 R HARPER 5 4 1 0-0
R FOWLER 3 2 1 0-0 J DAVID 4 4 0 0-0
C HOPE 3 2 1 0-0 C GRANT 4 4 0 0-0
C LOWRY 3 2 1 0-0 M MCKENZIE 4 2 2 0-0
A ODOM 3 1 2 0-0 B YOUNG 3 3 0 0-0
V FULLER 2 1 1 0-0 H THOMAS 3 2 1 0-0
T BROWN 2 0 2 0-0 S SHANLE 2 1 1 0-0
T LABOY 1 1 0 1-7 R WYNN 1 1 0 0-0
K VANDEN BOSCH 1 1 0 0-0 A LAKE 1 0 1 0-0
S TULLOCH 1 1 0 0-0

Officials: Referee-Mike Carey, Umpire-Dan Ferrell, Head Linesman-Kent
Payne, Line Judge-Mark Perlman, Field Judge-Buddy Horton, Side
Judge-Tom Fincken, Back Judge-Bill Schmitz.

Att: 70,002 Time of Game: 3:02</div>

 

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Vince Young got the best of Reggie Bushagain in a head-to-head matchup.


Young threw two touchdown passes to lead the Tennessee Titans toa 31-14 victory over the stumbling New Orleans Saints on Mondaynight.


The Titans also got a stellar second-half performance from theirdefense, which intercepted Saints quarterback Drew Brees fourtimes - three by middle linebacker Keith Bulluck - and left NewOrleans staggered and winless at 0-3.


<div class="pre">"This was a gratifying win from this standpoint: This was a</div>team victory," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "We gotcontributions from everybody, and we thought we were going toneed them tonight."


While Tennessee (2-1) is just a two-point loss to Super Bowlchampion Indianapolis from being undefeated, the Saints are in astunning free fall.


The defending NFC South champs, who reached the conference titlegame last season, have been outscored, 103-38, in their threegames.


"It's not the same as last year," Bush said. "We're just notplaying good football right now. We've got a lot of thingswe've got to improve."


Playing their home opener provided a cause for optimism for theSaints, who seemed to regain their footing by taking a 14-10lead midway through the third quarter.


It was shortlived as Young, who guided Texas to a 41-38 victoryover Bush and Southern California in the 2006 Rose Bowl, led theTitans to the go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing possession.

"The best thing was that we fell behind and nobody panicked,"Fisher said. "We just made the plays we had to."


Tennessee's defense then forced four turnovers by Brees on hisfinal four possessions, including a 61-yard interception returnby Vincent Fuller to put the game out of reach, 31-14, with 2:39to play.


Up until the fourth quarter, this was very much a ballgame,"Brees said. "After they took the interception back for atouchdown it got out of reach, but up until that point we werefighting for a win.


"We are too good of a team, and too many character guys. We dohave a window of opportunity here. We don't know how long thatwindow is and we have to take advantage of it while it is here."

Bulluck had two of his interceptions in the final nine minutes,giving him 14 career picks.


"I called myself Mr. Monday Night (the week before the game),"Bulluck said. "I've been in these situations before. I justthink if you can get it done on 'Monday Night Football,' youcan't ever get it done. I backed it up."


Bush scored two touchdowns on a pair of 1-yard runs, but he waslimited to just 15 yards rushing on seven carries for NewOrleans, which lost running back Deuce McAllister to a left kneeinjury in the second quarter. He will be re-examined Tuesday.

"I'll know more about it tomorrow," Saints coach Sean Paytonsaid. "Obviously it is disappointing to lose a player like him.We had to go on without him."


Young, meanwhile, finished 14-of-22 for 164 yards with the twoTD passes and one interception for Tennessee (2-1). He added 21yards rushing on five attempts and continually moved the Titansup and down the field.


Brees completed 29-of-45 passes for 225 yards and the fourpicks, and he also had a costly fumble that turned the momentumin Tennessee's favor.


After LenDale White capped a nine-play, 57-yard drive with a1-yard plunge to give the Titans a 17-14 lead with 5:36 left inthe third quarter, Tennessee's defense came up big on theopening play of the fourth quarter.


With the Saints on the move, defensive end Travis LaBoy strippedBrees and defensive tackle Randy Starks recovered at the Titans49.


"I'm pleased with our defense. We've improved, but we stillhave a lot of things we can improve on," Fisher said. "We hadsome chances to get off the field and we didn't, but theturnovers helped a lot. We tackled well. This week weemphasized tackling well, and the guys responded, especially inopen-field situations."


Ten plays later, Young connected with tight end Bo Scaife on a3-yard scoring pass to push the lead to 24-14 with 8:55 to play,putting New Orleans in a precarious position since Fisherentered with a 42-2 record when leading heading into the fourthquarter.


"We stayed poised. Our defense did a great job getting a bigstop," Young said. "We played together last year, everybodybelieves in each other. The offense can do it, the defense cando it, the special teams can do it."


The Saints were fortunate to be within 10-7 at halftime.

The Titans had the ball for 21 plays in the first quarter whileholding New Orleans without a first down, but only managed a33-yard field goal by Rob Bironas for a 3-0 lead.


A curious decision by Payton opened the door for the firsttouchdown of the game.


On 4th-and-1 from their own 45 in the final minute of theopening quarter, the Saints elected to go for it, but Breesoverthrew his receiver, giving Tennessee great field position.

"I take responsibility for going for it on fourth down in thefirst half," Payton said. "I am just trying to create somemomentum. It had been something we have lacked."


The Titans needed just six plays to cash in, with Young hittingBrandon Jones on a 35-yard scoring pass to make it 10-0 with12:55 left in the opening half.


New Orleans finally got untracked on its final drive of thehalf, going 62 yards in 11 plays. Brees hit Marques Colstonwith a 37-yard pass, and a roughing-the-passer call againstdefensive lineman Antwan Odom kept the drive alive.

Bush swept around the right side from 1 yard out to cut thedeficit to 10-7 with a minute to play.


Young trotted off the field and to the locker room at thatpoint, moments after he was thrown to the turf and seemed tosuffer an injury to his wrist or throwing hand.


"He got dehydrated," Fisher said. "We got him an IV, he cameback and was fine."